Miami Open Match Preview
Kyrgios hasn’t won a match since 2022. But on a day that’s light on stars and top seeds, his opening-rounder with McDonald, which is third up in the Stadium, probably qualifies as the highest-profile encounter. The Australian always draws a crowd, whatever his mood, and McDonald is a popular veteran American.
Both guys are 29, but they’ve faced each other just twice. McDonald won in two sets when they met on hard courts at the Citi Open in 2021; Kyrgios won in three when they played on clay in Houston the following spring.
It’s a bit of a surprise that McDonald, the steadier baseliner of the two, would prevail on hard courts and lose on clay. But his game, as unspectacular as it might seem, can present problems for Kyrgios. His two-handed backhand is a reliable shot during rallies, and a weapon on the return. If he can use that shot to break Kygrios a couple of times, it might be enough. Winner: McDonald—Steve Tignor
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